OK, here is the deal
Your computer will not tell you there is spyware/malware/spybots ect. infecting your computer. What will tell you is a spyware program or a spyware removal/prevention program like Spybot S&D (BTW, a new version is out and everyone should get updated as the old will no longer be supported, keep trying as the CGI limits are reached quickly) Ad-Aware, Pest Patrol or Spyware Blaster.
Spybot S&D here
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
Ad-Aware here
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Spyware Blaster (this is not a remover, but a program to stop spyware programs from getting installed)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
They are free to use on personal computers and updated often, so get the updates.
Pest Patrol (Not Free) is a very, very good program.
http://www.pestpatrol.com/
They do have a free online pest scan
http://www.pestscan.com/Scan.asp
If you are having problems with any search engine, ie. you enter a search and something else pops up, you are HiJacked. To solve this problem go here and download HijacKThis. It searches for browser addons, buttons and startup items.
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html
These programs catch and remove junk that anti-virus and firewalls miss.
I would also like to add that a google search of Adaware or Spyware might give you a lot of results BUT some of the problem programs will not remove but in fact install junk and they in turn install more junk. Most of the ad/spy junk out there is easy to remove but you can find programs that are VERY HARD to remove, like VX2 or Coolwebsearch, so before just downloading something from a search ask around and get something safe and proven. Almost every computer I have ever worked on was infected with junk. Once I removed the junk, and made the repairs the computers ran like new. It might also interest some of you to have a script sentry.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/programs.asp?Program=Script%20Sentry
Everyone must decide on what level security they want. This is just a starting point.
Your computer will not tell you there is spyware/malware/spybots ect. infecting your computer. What will tell you is a spyware program or a spyware removal/prevention program like Spybot S&D (BTW, a new version is out and everyone should get updated as the old will no longer be supported, keep trying as the CGI limits are reached quickly) Ad-Aware, Pest Patrol or Spyware Blaster.
Spybot S&D here
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
Ad-Aware here
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Spyware Blaster (this is not a remover, but a program to stop spyware programs from getting installed)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
They are free to use on personal computers and updated often, so get the updates.
Pest Patrol (Not Free) is a very, very good program.
http://www.pestpatrol.com/
They do have a free online pest scan
http://www.pestscan.com/Scan.asp
If you are having problems with any search engine, ie. you enter a search and something else pops up, you are HiJacked. To solve this problem go here and download HijacKThis. It searches for browser addons, buttons and startup items.
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html
These programs catch and remove junk that anti-virus and firewalls miss.
I would also like to add that a google search of Adaware or Spyware might give you a lot of results BUT some of the problem programs will not remove but in fact install junk and they in turn install more junk. Most of the ad/spy junk out there is easy to remove but you can find programs that are VERY HARD to remove, like VX2 or Coolwebsearch, so before just downloading something from a search ask around and get something safe and proven. Almost every computer I have ever worked on was infected with junk. Once I removed the junk, and made the repairs the computers ran like new. It might also interest some of you to have a script sentry.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/programs.asp?Program=Script%20Sentry
Everyone must decide on what level security they want. This is just a starting point.
